Deposed? I couldn't be happier! I wouldn't even be a dog to the crown prince.

Half a month later, in Chang'an City, at the Zhuque Gate.

The autumn sky was high and blue, without a single cloud.

But today, Chang'an City is even more bustling than the sky.

"They're here! They're here! His Majesty's dragon banner!"

"Look! It's the Xuanjia Army! My God, they're back!"

"And... what's that? Is that the legendary Great Snow Dragon Rider? White horse, silver armor, oh my god, he's even more handsome than the people in the paintings!"

Hundreds of thousands of people spontaneously flooded the streets, crowding the wide Zhuque Avenue. They waved flowers, held homemade flags, and their faces were filled with heartfelt joy and pride.

The army has returned in triumph!

The Turks, the nightmare that had haunted the Tang Dynasty for decades, were utterly defeated!

Li Shimin rode on the magnificent "Sa Lu Zi" horse, clad in golden armor. Although his face still showed signs of fatigue from the long journey, his dragon eyes shone brightly, and his chest stood straight.

Hearing the thunderous shouts of "Long live!" around him, he felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and pride rising from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

This is exactly what he wanted!

This is the glory of an emperor!

Although the process was a bit tortuous, and I almost ruined myself in the middle, the result was good!

Li Shimin's gaze passed over the cheering crowd and landed on the still incredibly flashy and luxurious carriage in the very center of the procession.

Li Chengqian was lifting the carriage curtain, holding a handful of melon seeds in his hand, cracking them open while idly watching the "fan meeting" outside the window.

"Father, you see, you're still quite popular."

Li Chengqian winked at Li Shimin and said, "I told you, you are suited for this kind of public work. As for the rough work of fighting, leave it to us young people."

Li Shimin blushed, gave a haughty snort, and didn't reply.

But deep down he had to admit that what his unfilial son said... actually made a lot of sense.

……

The first thing the army did upon entering the city was not to celebrate their victory, but to present the prisoners of war.

The area in front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple was solemn and dignified.

Li Shimin personally lit three sticks of incense and kowtowed three times deeply before the ancestral tablets.

"Our ancestors are above!"

"The unworthy descendant Li Shimin has fortunately fulfilled his mission!"

"Today, we have captured the Turkic leader Jieli and Tong Yabghu alive, annihilated 300,000 enemy troops, restored our Han homeland, and displayed the might of our Great Tang!"

May our ancestors rest in peace!

After saying that, he suddenly stood up, drew his Emperor's Sword, and pointed it at the sky.

"Bring it up!"

With a command given.

Hundreds of once arrogant Turkic nobles were now being led up, bound hand and foot, like a flock of pigs and sheep awaiting slaughter.

Leading the group was none other than Jieli Khan, the very same Jieli Khan who had once caused Li Shimin so much humiliation.

His fur coat was tattered, his hair was disheveled, and his face was filled with despair and numbness.

"Kneel down!"

Cheng Yaojin kicked him in the back of the knee, forcing him to kneel before the ancestral tablets of the Li family.

"Li Shimin... just kill me..."

Jieli raised his head, his voice hoarse, his eyes devoid of hatred, only filled with a deathly pallor.

"The victor is king, the loser is villain; I have nothing to say. I only ask... to die with dignity."

"die?"

Li Shimin looked down at him, a cold smile curving his lips. "You're getting off too easy."

……

That evening, a grand victory banquet was held at the palace.

Inside the Taiji Hall, the lights were bright, and there was singing and dancing.

Li Shimin sat high on the dragon throne, his face glowing, frequently raising his cup to receive the congratulations of the officials.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

Just as the atmosphere reached its climax.

Li Chengqian suddenly put down the chicken leg in his hand and clapped his hands.

"Gentlemen, isn't just drinking and eating meat boring?"

"I'm in a good mood today, so I've specially invited a 'high-class' dancer to perform for everyone."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately became interested.

What kind of stunning beauty must she be to be called "heavyweight" by His Highness the Crown Prince?

Just when everyone was eagerly anticipating it.

The palace doors slowly opened.

Several eunuchs dragged and pulled in a... well, a lump of something.

The man was burly and had a face full of menacing features, yet he was forced to wear an ill-fitting, brightly colored Hu Ji dance dress.

The skirt was too small, making his fat jiggle.

His face was covered with thick makeup, and his lips were painted blood red, making him look as ridiculous and disgusting as could be.

"puff--"

Cheng Yaojin spat out a mouthful of wine. "My goodness! Your Highness, your taste is... a bit too strong!"

"This isn't a dancer; it's clearly a sow in makeup!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

However, their laughter stopped abruptly when they saw the person's face clearly.

"That...that is..."

"Jieli Khan?!"

That's right.

The "fat woman" dressed as a dancer was none other than the once invincible ruler of the grasslands, Jieli Khan.

His eyes were lifeless, his face filled with despair, and he was at the mercy of the eunuchs.

"Jiali."

Li Chengqian walked up to him and patted his rouge-covered cheeks with a smile.

"I heard you want to use my father's skull as a wine cup?"

"I heard you want my mother to wash your feet?"

"I also heard... you wanted to use me as a chamber pot?"

Jieli trembled, abruptly raising his head, his eyes filled with terror.

"Don't be afraid."

Li Cheng-

Gan's smile became increasingly "kind".

"I am a reasonable person, I wouldn't treat you like that."

"I just think that since you enjoy humiliating people so much, you must also enjoy being humiliated, right?"

"Come."

Li Chengqian snapped his fingers.

The band next to them immediately started playing a lively Sogdian dance tune.

"Dance for me... for my father, the Emperor."

"You danced well, so I will grant you a complete corpse."

"You didn't dance well..."

Li Chengqian leaned close to his ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"I'll send you to the castration ward, so that in your next life you won't even have the chance to be a man."

Jieli shuddered, his eyes instantly filled with endless fear and despair.

He looked at the expressionless emperor on the high platform, and then at the crown prince in front of him who was smiling like a devil.

He knew he had no other choice.

Tears of humiliation slid down her powdered cheeks, leaving two ridiculous ravines.

This former overlord of the grasslands, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, slowly and clumsily began to wiggle his obese body.

The scene was comical and absurd, yet it also carried a chilling cruelty.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Cheng Yaojin and the others could no longer contain themselves and burst into laughter, slapping their thighs.

Li Shimin sat on the dragon throne, watching the enemy who had once humiliated him now dancing like a clown before him. He felt the resentment that had been building up in his chest for years finally…

I threw it all up!

Cool!

That was fucking awesome!

This is more satisfying than killing him!

"Great! Well done!"

Li Shimin slapped his thigh and laughed loudly.

Just as the emperor and his subjects were enjoying themselves and the revelry reached its peak...

"puff--"

The spinning Jieli suddenly froze.

He suddenly spat out a mouthful of black blood and then fell straight backward.

This powerful figure from the grasslands ultimately did not die on the battlefield.

Instead, it was alive...

I was so ashamed and angry with myself.

Inside the main hall, the laughter abruptly stopped.

stop.

Li Chengqian looked at the corpse on the ground and curled his lip in disgust.

"Tch, what a weak mentality."

He wiped his hands and walked back to his seat as if nothing had happened.

As Li Shimin looked at Jieli's unseeing corpse, the smile in his eyes slowly faded.

He slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping over all the civil and military officials in the hall, a surge of unprecedented pride and ambition rising in his heart.

"Issue my decree!"

His voice was loud and clear, reaching every corner of the Taiji Hall and also extending to the vast grasslands that had just been conquered.

"From this day forward, the name 'Turkic' is abolished!"

"We will bring the entire southern grasslands into the territory of our Great Tang Dynasty!"

"set up--"

Li Shimin took a deep breath and uttered those four words that were worthy of being recorded in history.

"The Beiting Protectorate!"